Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-02-11
TARIFF PROTECTION AND FARMING.
From The Chicago Journal.

lARlff PRUltGllUk ANU fAhMlhb'
From The Chicago Journal.
If the comparatively few persons
directly engaged in manufacturing
be excepted, there is no class IN the
community that has greater inter
ests in the continuance of the Pro
tectivc tariff policy of the Govern
ment than the agriculturlsts.
While the assertion is unques-
tlonably true that agriculture is the
foundation upon which our ma
tional prosperity is built and sus.
tanned, 1t is also just as true, and
all experience proves it, that a
strictly agricultural community or
State IS generally poor one. That
nation is the most prosperous which
fosters diversified industry, and,
by developing all its natural re-
sources, finds remunerative en-
ployment suited to the tastes and
genius OF all its citizens. Oompe-
tition ruins the business OF farm.
ing as quickly as any other, and
the prevailing low prices for all
farm products show that too many
people are already engaged in sgri-
culture to make it profitable. There
is too much grain in sight, too
much still in the hands of the farm
ers; the demand for foreign ship
ment is too little; the home con-
sumption is too small, to expect q
speedy advance IN prices. But,
discouraging as the present outlook
is for the farmers, their condition
would be much worse If the present
high Protective tariff should be re-
duced to the "revenue reform" basis
of MI. Morrison and his Free Trade
associates, and the thousands OF
artisans and skilled workmen now
engaged in manufacturing be driv'
en- from the mills, factories, and
workshops to get subsistence for
themselves and families out of the
ground.
The whole history Of our tariff
legislation proves that every tariff
law that has been enacted since the
Government was established which
has ignored the Protective feature
has told as quickly and disastrous
~ upon the farmers as upon any
other class. Their interests aRc
best subserved by the establish
ment of other prosperous home III
dustries, by profitable manufacture
ing, by successful commerce, by
the exchange of commodities, by
sound banking, and by all the Other
means that give men and women
employment in other pursuits and
keep good the home market.
Land is cheap or dear according
to the number of people who live
upon or near it. 1t is very high II
all the large cities and very cheaI
in all the new States and Terri
tories. In the vincinity OF New
York and Philadelphia the marke'
gardener pays from $lOO to SbOC
per acre for his land, and finds II
profitable, because he has a ready
market at his own door for all hi
produce, while much better LAND
can be bought in Dakota for 80 pei
acre and less. The Dakota farmer
is impoverished by the high rate'
of transportation to distant mark
cts. The Protective tariff benefits
the agriculturists by keeping large
bodies of men and women engaged
| in other remuneratiye employ
ments, thus avoiding competition
and, while the land is enhanced il
value by that method, all farm pro
ducts are increased in price be
cause there are so many hungr,
mouths to feed. The farmers nea
the large cities and manufacturing
towns readily turn all their sur
plus products into cash, while to
day the farmers of Iowa are burn
ing corn for fuel, and in Dakoti
they are feeding No. l hard whea
to their mules
Some of the figures extracted
from the last United States CensuI
Reports show IN a very striking
manner how a diversified industry
favorably affects the people of dit
ferent States; how manufacturing
and the development of the natura
resources make one commodity
prosperous, and how sticking Il
agriculture alone impoverisheI
another and handicaps 1t in thu
race of progress. For the com
parlson take the two States o
PENNSYLVANIA and Virginia. will